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Towel Waver

I don't think it is as clear as you say. He just turned 19 and he has some tools 19 year old normally don't have. I think his biggest issue is decision making and shot selection. Those are easier to fix than some other things.

His True shooting percentage was .559 in college while his ft% was 52%. That must be pretty rare. By your own logic, if he improves his ft% to just average and cuts out the long 2's he will be an pretty efficient scorer. He took more 3's than free throw attempts, so I have to figure he can improve there.

I don't know if you posted this in jest but I can tell you that many times both Garland and Porter Jr. were jumping off the bench when a teammate made a good play in summer league. Porter Jr. in particular got even more excited when a Cavs player got a dunk and I saw him turn his back once after our player decided to lay it in like he was disappointed they didn't dunk it. He looked like someone that wanted to be out there playing.

Rookie

Sorry for another Iowa State reference, but he kind of reminds me of BDJ who was a bit of a head case and didn’t live up to his ability at Iowa State. Then he ended up signing a deal with the Pelicans and even became a starter... before being killed in his second year in the NBA.

I don’t question the talent is/was there(for either), it’s just a matter of it clicking. Low risk high reward type guy.

Hall-of-Famer

Sorry for another Iowa State reference, but he kind of reminds me of BDJ who was a bit of a head case and didn’t live up to his ability at Iowa State. Then he ended up signing a deal with the Pelicans and even became a starter... before being killed in his second year in the NBA.

I don’t question the talent is/was there(for either), it’s just a matter of it clicking. Low risk high reward type guy.

I'm glad Nance and the other young vets are actively taking on leadership roles. Looks like they are all smiles right now. Things could change once adversity hits on the floor. That will be the real test.

One thing that was really encouraging to me was an interview with TT last year. He said the locker room was really good, and that it was better than some of the winning teams we have had. That will be good support for Kevin if true.

All-Star

Hall-of-Famer

His combine athletic testing wasn't that good, but he looks like one of the best athletes in the draft. Zion is better, maybe Thybulle? Maybe he is just functionally better athlete. I mean Harrison Barnes had some of the best athletic testing and it shows in his defense, but he isn't dunking through contact much. Interesting.

Luckily for us, we've got several years up our sleeve while the rest of the NBA vies for power in this "BIG 2" thing they've got going on at the moment. The Cavs' greatest luxury right now (and it's not a luxury we knew during LeBron's last stint here) is time. We have all the time in the world. We aren't competing with any of these big market teams with 2x superstar horses pulling the cart. Based on this draft and the drafts forthcoming, we should hopefully begin our ascent right in time for the "BIG 2"-era teams to disband. Then, we begin our renaissance!

Aussie

he seems boom or bust to me, just his whole play style seems like that. If you arent a star you tend to be an inefficient chucker with his playstyle, that is my main concern. Unless he can develop a consistent 3 and turn into a decent 3/D with bonus playmaking, I suspect boom or bust

Hall-of-Famer

he seems boom or bust to me, just his whole play style seems like that. If you arent a star you tend to be an inefficient chucker with his playstyle, that is my main concern. Unless he can develop a consistent 3 and turn into a decent 3/D with bonus playmaking, I suspect boom or bust

I figured initially that he was not a defensive player due to the maturity concerns, but he tracks pretty well as a defender especially for a guy who will be 19 his entire rookie season. He has lapses like any young kid, but his defensive awareness is high. He also talks about guarding the best offensive player, which you rarely hear from rooks. It took JR 10 years to say that.

His lateral mobility is really good. He can check 1-3 most likely and from photos of the rookies, he looks like he has one of the best bodies in the draft. Like Zion is obviously bigger and stronger, but he looked more developed at 19 than Hunter looks at 22. If he can play the 2 and 3, it will definitely open minutes for him. I am debating who is better off at the backup 3 him or Windler. I hope those 2 play well together and just handle the wing spots interchangeably off the bench.

Really though, if he can play defense, we have some time for him to develop his offensive game the right way under Beilein.